Hydraulic servo mechanism



Patented May 26, 1953 HYDRAULIC sERvo MECHANISM Eugene E. Strief, Denver, Colo., assigner to General Electric Company, a. corporation of New York Application December 26, 1951, Serial No. 7:3652437y 2 Claims.

This invention relates to fluid pressure servo mechanism, particularly to a servo device for amplifying small displacements in an indicating or regulating system. The specific form of the invention described herein is a temperature indieating or controlling mechanism, specially intended for use in gas turbine powerplants, in which a hydraulic servo is used to amplify the differential thermal expansion of a temperature sensing element.

Since the motive fluid temperatures in a gas turbine powerplant yare well above 1000 F., many problems have been encountered in procuring satisfactory devices for sensing the temperature and amplifying the temperature responsive signal so that it can be used to modify the operation of the fuel system of the `powerplant to prevent excessive temperatures, etc. f

The purpose of the present invention is to provide improved fluid pressure servo mechanism for converting the `comparatively small movement of a differential thermal expansion type of temperature sensitive element into an amplified displacement which can be used to modify the operation of the regulating system supplying fuel to the powerplant.

Other objects and yadvantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in

which the single figure shows diagrammatically a gas turbine powerplant having the motive fluid temperature sensed by a differential thermal expansion device, with a hydraulic servo incorporating the invention for amplifying the relative displacement occurring in the differential thermal expansion device.

The invention is practiced by providing a pilot member connected to be positioned by the temperature responsive element, the pilot sliding in a bushing which has a piston end portion subjected to the pressure of the operating fluid admitted through the pilot. This pressure tends to bias the bushing against a compression spring, so that an increasing output pressure is required to maintain the bushing in equilibrium condition against the bias of the spring as the input displacement increases. Thus the output signal pressure will bear a preselected relation to the input displacement, and can be employed to effect a proportional output displacement.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the invention is shown as lapplied to a gas turbine powerplant, only =a portion of which is shown diagrammatically and in section. The turbine nozzle structure I supplies hot motive fluid, at 'a tempera-ture above 1000 F.; to a bucket-wheel 2,

which discharges into an exhaust casing 3. For sensing the temperature of the motive fluid discharged from bucket-wheel I, a differential thermal expansion device, indicated generally at 4, is provided. This comprises an outer tube 4a of a material having a very substantial coefficient of thermal expansion, 4and having disposed inside a tube or rod 4b of an alloy having a very much smaller coefficient of thermal expansion. These materials may be, for instance, stainless steel and carbon steel, respectively. The outer tube 4a is secured, las by welding or` equivalent means, to the extreme end of the inner rod 4b, as indicated at 4c in the drawing. The outer tube is 'supported in the outer exhaust casing wall, as for instance by means of a support bushing 5 having a set screw 5a or equivalent device for securing the tube 4 in place.

It will be apparent that, due to the difference in the expansion characteristics of the outer tube 4a and the inner rod 4b, an increase in temperature of the motive fluid will cause the outer tube to expand, pulling the rod 4b downwardly, while a decrease in temperature will cause outer tube 4a to contract and push rod 4b upwardly.

This differenti-al thermal expansion between the members 4a, 4b is amplified by the hydraulic servo means Ishown toan enlarged scale at 6. This comprises van outer housing 'I dening a central longitudinal bore 8 closed at the top by an end cap 9. The opposite end of the housingr 'I defines an enlarged cylinder I0 having an end closure I I which may be conveniently formed integral with or secured to the outer expansion tube 4a. The lower end plate II also has formed integral therewith lan axially extending cylinder portion I2. Slidably disposed in the bore AI3 is a bushing I 3' having an open upper Iend engaged by a compression lspring I4, and a lower end portiondening a piston I 5 slidably disposed in the chamber defined between the outer wall I 0 and the inner cylinder member I2. This piston may of course be provided with suitable Isealing means such as the sealing grooves I5a, I5b.

The intermediate portion of bushing I3 defines an inlet port I 6 and a discharge port I1, the latter adapted to cooperate with a pilot disk I8 carried on the extreme end of rod.4b. `It will be understood by those skilled in the art that, when in equilibrium condition, the pilot disk I8 just blocks the discharge port I'I. The inlet port I5 is alwaysn free communication with the spa-ce I9 ldefined within the bushing I3 at the lower side of pilot disk I8. A suitable operating fiuid at yconstant pressure is provided by way ofan inlet conduit ZIJ'h'aving suitable pres- 3 sure regulating means such as the constant pressure regulating valve 20a. Conduit 20 discharges into a longitudinal groove 2|, designed to be in open vcommunication with the inlet port It for vall longitudinal positions of bushing I3.

The discharge port I1 is in free communication withan axially extending4 groove 22 in housing 1, for'all; axial positions of' bushing I3. This groove communicates by way of a conduit 23 with the pressure chamber 24 defined between the piston I5, cylinder I8, and end closure II.

The fluid pressure existing in chamberZlk is=com-- municated by conduit 25 to a suitable output device, which for purposes of illustration is shownhere as comprising a hydraulic c'ylinderfZ'v having a piston 2l biased in one direction by a compression spring 28 and arranged-.15o be positiolllfli by the hydraulic pressure in chamber 26a against the bias o-f spring 28. The displacement ofthe piston -rod 21a may be used to actuate various indicating or regulating devices. For instance, this displacement may be used as the temperature responsive input signal displacement. in an exhaust gas temperature regulatingY mechanism as disclose-cl in the United States patent to NE E. Starkey, 2,528,252', issued October 31, 1950 and assigned to the same assignee as the present ap.- plication.

So' that `any iluidf leaking past piston I! will not accumulate above the piston and prevent movement thereofupwardly, the chamber 24a is provided' with: av drain Zlib'. Operating fluid' discharged from chamber 24'- throughconduit; 23 when the pilot I8 moves downwardly, is. drained through the open end I-3a of bushing ItA and from the housing l by-way of: a longitudinally extending groove la` in the inner- Wall thereof, this drain groove communicating witha drain conduit-1b.

The operation of this hydraulic servo will be apparent from the above description of' the structure. If the exhaust gas temperature should increase, the outer tubel lla will expand; pulling inner rod 4b downwardly so that pilotY I'8` uncovers the port Il, with the result that uid from chamber 2-4 drains` through conduit 23', through the opening Ita, groovel la and drain conduit 1h. The force of spring IAP thereupon causes bushing I3 to descend somewhat until the pilot I8- again blocks port Il. This displacement is accom-paniedby a decrease in the force'- exerted by spring I4', which force is of course just balanced bythe reduced pressure now existing in chamber M; Thus an increasel in temperatureof the motive iuid is accompanied by: a decrease in the signal pressure in chamber 24, withy the result that output piston 211 descends until the reduced' force exerted by spring 28 just balances the reduced pressure in chamber 26a. Thus an increase in temperature of the turbine exhaust fluid is accompanied by a proportional downward movement of the piston rod- 21a.

Conversely, upon a decrease in exhaust uid temperature, the differential thermal expansion occurring between outer tube 4a and inner rod 4bcauses the pilot disk I8 to move upwardly so as to uncover port Il to admit operating iluid from port I6, through conduit 23 to chamber 24. The increased pressure in chamber 24 causes bushing I3 tok move upwardly until` pilot I8 again blocks port Il, in which. condition the increased :torce` exerted by `the compression spring I4 just balances the increased' pressurev in chamber 24'. The increasedpressureis connnunicatedto-,chamber 26a sothatpistonm moves upwardly. Thus a decrease in exhaust fluid temperature is accompanied by an upward movement of the piston rod 21a.

It will be obvious 'to those skilled in the art that, by suitable selection of the physical characteristics of springs I4, 28, and by suitable proportioning of the effective areas of pistons I5, 21, a given change in temperature or; the turbine exhaust fluid can be made to effect' a desired output signal movement of the piston rod 21a.

Thus the invention provides a comparatively simple hydraulic servo mechanism for producing a useful output displacement which bears a preselected relation tothe comparatively small diif'erential' thermal expansion of the temperature sensing element. The simplicity of the mecharequired, facilitates achievement of the degree of reliability required of such a device when used as' an over-temperature preventing component in a gas turbine regulator.

While theI device: has been described asf'ahydraulicl servo, it. will' be. understood! that the motive fluid maybe. any suitable liquid' or gas under pressure.

While only one form of the invention has been described; specifically' herein, it willv be apparent that. many alterations and* substitutions of mechanical' equivalents mayf bemade; and iti's','of course, desired to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim asl new and" desire to secure by Letters Patent' of the United StatesY is:

l. Fluid pressure servo mechanism for producing an output signal pressure proportional to an input signal displacement comprising. a housing defining a longitudinal bore having an end portion of enlarged diameter, a hollow bushing member slidably disposed in said bore with an enlarged hollow piston end portion in the enlarged endK portion of the; bore,v and endA wall members fory the respective ends of the housing, a hollow cylinder member secured to the larger end wall memberv and projecting axially into the enlarged bore portion of the housing, the piston end portion of the bushing being slidably disposed. over said cylinder member' with the outer circumferential surface of the piston engaging the innerwall of theenlargedbore portion whereby an output signal pressure chamber. is deiined between said piston', cylinder member, and the adjacent housing walls, compression spring meansA dis.- posed in the smaller diameter opposite end portion. of the housing, bore to bias the bushing against the pressure existing in saidsignalpres.- sure chamber, an input displacement. member disposed within said cylinder member andhaving on the end' thereof a pilot disk` member slidably disposed in the central bore of the bushing. the bushing, dening a rst port in one side wall portion. thereofV for admitting pressure fluid tothe chamber denedby the pilot disk and said cylinder member, the endof saidbushing remote from the piston `defining a, second drain. port said bushing having a second side wall portionv defining aA third port adapted' to be covered by the pilot diskwhen in equilibrium condition, conduit means communicating fluid from said third. port to said signal pressure chambenthe housing delining drain portsv for removing iiuid from the enlarged bore portion of the housing at the opposite side, of the piston fromv said signal pressure chamber and-y from said. second port, Whereby movement of the input, displacement member in. one direction causes tngpiiormemhe t@ ad..

mit operating fluid to the signal pressure chamber to bias the piston against the compression spring until the increased force exerted by the spring `balances the increased pressure in the signal pressure chamber and the pilot disk again covers said third port, whereas `movement of the input displacement member in the opposite direction causes the pilot disk to uncover the port to eilect drainage of fluid from the signal output pressure chamber through said drain ports in the bushing end portion and housing until the reduced pressure in the signal pressure chamber causes the spring to` move the bushing so the third port is again aligned with the pilot disk.

2. Fluid pressure servo mechanism for producing an output signal pressure proportional to an input signal displacement comprising a housing defining a longitudinal bore having an end portion of enlarged diameter, a hollow bushing member slidably disposed in said bore with an enlarged hollow piston end portion in the enlarged end portion of said bore, end Wall portions forming closures for the respective ends of the housing, a hollow cylinder member secured to the larger end wall member and projecting axially into the enlarged bore portion of the housing, the piston end portion of said bushing being slidably disposed over said cylinder member with the outer circumferential surface of the piston engaging the inner wall of the enlarged bore portion whereby an output signal pressure chamber is dened between said piston and cylinder member and the adjacent walls of the housing, compression spring means disposed in the smaller diameter opposite end portion of the housing bore and biasing the bushing against the pressure existing in 4the signal pressure chamber, an input displacement member disposed within said hollow cylinder member and having at the end thereof a pilot disk member slidably disposed in the central bore of the bushing, the bushing deining a first port for admitting pressure fluid to the chamber deiined within the bushing between the pilot disk and said cylinder member, the end of the bushing remote from the piston dening 4 a second port communicating with a drain opening in the housing, the bushing having a side wall portion dening a third port adapted to be covered by the pilot disk when in equilibrium condition, conduit means communicating fluid from said third port to said signal pressure chamber, whereby movement of the input displacement member in one direction causes the pilot disk to admit operating fluid to the signal pressure chamber to bias the piston against the compression spring until the increased force exerted by the spring balances the increased pressure in the signal pressure chamber and the pilot disk again covers the third port, whereas movement of the input displacement member in the opposite direction causes the pilot disk to uncover the third port to effect drainage of fluid from the signal output pressure chamber through said second port until the reduced pressure in the signal pressure chamber causes the spring to move the bushing so the third port is again aligned with the pilo-t disk.

EUGENE E. STRIEF.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,684,075 Schwendner et al. Sept. 11, 1928 2,312,671 Otto Mar. 2, 1943 2,528,252 Starkey Oct. 31, 1950 

